Dumpster cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A dumpster cleaning apparatus for cleaning and deodorizing a garbage container. The dumpster cleaning apparatus includes a vehicle for traveling across a support surface. A washing assembly mounted on the vehicle for washing the garbage container. A lifting means mounted to the vehicle for lifting the garbage container from the support surface and positioning the garbage container in the washing assembly so that the washing assembly can wash the garbage container.

1. A garbage container cleaning system for cleaning and deodorizing a garbage container, the system comprising:
 a washing assembly for mounting on a vehicle resting on a support surface, the washing assembly being capable of washing both an interior and an exterior of the garbage container; and 
 a lifting means for lifting the garbage container from the support surface and positioning the garbage container in the washing assembly, said lifting means being mountable on the vehicle with said washing assembly; 
 wherein said washing assembly comprises a washing bin mountable on the vehicle, said washing bin comprising a perimeter wall and a base wall collectively defining an interior space of said washing bin, an upper edge of said perimeter wall defining an upper opening of said washing bin; 
 wherein said washing assembly comprises a plurality of nozzle assemblies for directing fluid from said fluid space onto the garbage container positioned in said washing space to clean the garbage container, said plurality of nozzle assemblies being positioned in said washing space of said washing bin; 
 wherein a portion of said plurality of nozzle assemblies comprises a plurality of stanchion conduits being in fluid communication with said fluid space, a portion of said plurality of stanchion conduits being coupled to said perimeter wall of said washing bin for spraying water onto an exterior of the garbage container, at least one of said stanchion conduits being substantially centrally positioned in said interior space and extending upwardly from said base wall in a substantially free standing manner for spraying water in an interior of the garbage container; and 
 a plurality of nozzles for spraying fluid into said washing space being coupled to each of said stanchion conduits such that said nozzles coupled to said stanchion conduit are in fluid communication with flow in said stanchion conduit. 
 
   
   
     2. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , said upper opening and said interior space of said washing bin are sufficiently large to permit the garbage container to be removably inserted into said interior space of said washing bin. 
   
   
     3. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said washing assembly comprises a dividing wall coupled to said perimeter wall of said washing bin, said dividing wall dividing said interior space into a washing space and a fluid space, said washing space being for removably receiving the garbage container, said fluid space being in fluid communication with said washing space to allow a fluid in said fluid space to be used to clean the garbage container in said washing space. 
   
   
     4. The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said washing assembly comprises a plurality of baffle walls positioned in said fluid space for dampening movement of fluid in said fluid space. 
   
   
     5. The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each of said baffle walls includes at least one aperture extending through the associated one of said baffle walls to permit the fluid to pass through the associated one of said baffle walls to permit a depth of the fluid to remain substantially uniform in said fluid space. 
   
   
     6. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said nozzle assemblies are mounted on said base wall of said interior space and are directed upwardly into said washing space. 
   
   
     7. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said nozzles coupled to said stanchion conduit are positioned at divergent angles to said stanchion conduit to allow fluid sprayed from said nozzles to be sprayed into and onto the garbage container. 
   
   
     8. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said washing assembly comprises a supply assembly for supplying fluid from said fluid space to said nozzle assemblies, said supply assembly being in fluid communication with said fluid space and said nozzle assemblies. 
   
   
     9. The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said supply assembly comprises a mixing member for mixing chemical's with the fluid to be supplied to said nozzle assemblies. 
   
   
     10. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said washing assembly comprises a return assembly for returning fluid from said washing space to said fluid space when the fluid has been used to clean the garbage container. 
   
   
     11. The system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said return assembly comprises a grinding member for grinding debris washed from the garbage container and collected with the fluid from said washing space, said grinding member being in fluid communication with said washing space. 
   
   
     12. The system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said return assembly comprises a separator member for separating the debris that has been ground up by said grinding member from the fluid, said separator member being in fluid communication with said grinding member for receiving flow from said grinding member. 
   
   
     13. The system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said return assembly comprises at least one return pump being in fluid communication with said separator member for pumping the fluid from said separator member to said fluid space of said washing bin. 
   
   
     14. The system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said return assembly comprises a particulate filter being in fluid communication with said at least one return pump and said fluid space for removing particulate matter from the fluid from said separator member. 
   
   
     15. The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said washing assembly comprises a flap member configured to engage a lid of the garbage container when the garbage container is positioned in the interior space and being effective to force the lid away from the garbage container to keep the garbage container lid open. 
   
   
     16. The system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said flap member extends upwardly from said base wall at an angle with respect to said base wall and into said interior space of said washing bin. 
   
   
     17. A garbage container cleaning system for cleaning and deodorizing a garbage container, the system comprising:
 a vehicle for traveling across a support surface; 
 a garbage container for receiving garbage, said garbage container having a lid pivotally mounted on a container portion of said garbage container for selectively closing said garbage container to keep garbage in said container portion; 
 a washing assembly mounted on the vehicle for washing said garbage container, said washing assembly being capable of washing both an interior and an exterior of said garbage container, said washing assembly comprising:
 a washing bin being coupled to the vehicle, said washing bin comprising a perimeter wall and a base wall defining an interior space of said washing bin, an upper edge of said perimeter wall defining an upper opening of said washing bin, said upper opening and said interior space of said washing bin being sufficiently large to permit said garbage container to be removably inserted into said interior space of said washing bin; 
 a dividing wall coupled to said perimeter wall of said washing bin, said dividing wall dividing said interior space into a washing space and a fluid space, said washing space removably receiving said garbage container, said fluid space being in fluid communication with said washing space to allow the fluid in said fluid space to be used to clean said garbage container in said washing space; 
 a flap member coupled to said perimeter wall of said washing bin, said flap member extending upwardly into said washing space, said flap member extending at an angle with respect to said base wall of said washing bin, said flap member engaging a lid of said garbage container to force the lid away from said garbage container to keep said garbage container lid open when said garbage container is positioned in the washing space; 
 a plurality of baffle walls for dampening movement of the fluid in said fluid space, said plurality of baffle walls being positioned in said fluid space for defining a plurality of compartments in said fluid space, said plurality of baffle walls being coupled to said perimeter wall and said dividing wall, each of said baffle walls including at least one aperture extending through the associated one of said baffle walls to permit the fluid to pass through the associated one of said baffle walls to permit a depth of the fluid to remain substantially uniform in said fluid space; 
 a plurality of nozzle assemblies for directing fluid from said fluid space onto said garbage container positioned in said washing space to clean said garbage container, said plurality of nozzle assemblies being positioned in said washing space of said washing bin, said nozzle assemblies being positioned along the perimeter of said washing bin such that said nozzle assemblies are directed into said washing space, said nozzle assemblies being in fluid communication with said fluid space of said washing bin, each of said nozzle assemblies comprising: 
 
 at least one stanchion conduit being in fluid communication with said fluid space, said at least one stanchion conduit being coupled to said perimeter wall of said washing bin;
 a plurality of nozzles for spraying fluid into said washing space, a portion of said nozzles being coupled to said stanchion conduit such that said nozzles coupled to said stanchion conduit are in fluid communication with flow in said stanchion conduit, said nozzles coupled to said stanchion conduit being positioned at angles to said stanchion conduit to allow fluid sprayed from said nozzles to be sprayed into and onto said garbage container; 
 
 a supply assembly for supplying fluid from said fluid space to said nozzle assemblies, said supply assembly being in fluid communication with said fluid space and said nozzle assemblies, said supply assembly comprising:
 a supply pump for pumping the fluid from said fluid space to said nozzle assemblies, said supply pump being in fluid communication with said fluid space of said washing bin; 
 a mixing member for mixing chemicals with the fluid, said mixing member being in fluid communication with said supply pump and said nozzle assemblies; 
 a pressurizing member for pressurizing the fluid being supplied to said nozzle assemblies after said fluid has passed through said mixing member; 
 
 a return assembly for returning fluid from said washing space to said fluid space when the fluid has been used to clean said garbage container, said return assembly comprising:
 a drain trough being coupled to said base wall of said washing bin in a manner such that said drain trough is in fluid communication with said washing space, said base wall of said washing bin being angled downwardly towards said drain trough to move debris and fluid dispensed from said nozzle assemblies into said washing space toward said drain trough to collect the fluid, said drain trough having a bottom wall that slopes downwardly to a drain aperture to direct the fluid and the debris collected in said drain trough to said drain aperture; 
 a grinding member for grinding the debris washed from said garbage container and collected with the fluid from said washing space, said grinding member being coupled to said drain trough such that said grinding member is in fluid communication with said drain aperture of said drain trough; 
 a separator member for separating the debris that has been ground up by said grinding member from the fluid, said separator member being in fluid communication with said grinding member for receiving flow from said grinding member; 
 a debris collection member being coupled to said separator member for collecting the debris separated from the fluid by said separator member and storing the debris for disposal; 
 a return primary pump being in fluid communication with said separator member for pumping the fluid from said separator member to said fluid space of said washing bin; 
 a particulate filter being in fluid communication with said return primary pump and said fluid space for removing particulate matter from the fluid from said separator member; 
 a return secondary pump being in fluid communication with said particulate filter and said fluid space to pump the filtered water to said fluid space; 
 
 lifting means for lifting said garbage container from the support surface and positioning said garbage container in the washing space of the washing bin, said lifting means being operationally coupled to the vehicle, said lifting means comprising:
 a pair of arms being pivotally coupled to said vehicle such that said arms are pivotable with respect to said vehicle; 
 actuating means for pivoting said pair of arms with respect to said vehicle, said actuating means comprising a pair of hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies, each of said hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies being mounted on one of said arms; 
 a plurality of forks for inserting into receiving slots of said garbage container, said forks being coupled to said arms to lift said garbage container over the vehicle and into said washing space of said washing bin; and 
 
 a pair of connecting members for mounting said forks to said arms, said connecting members extending between said arms and said forks, said connecting members extending through a pair of arcuate cutouts extending through said perimeter wall of said washing bin to permit said arms to be positioned outside of said washing bin when said forks and said garbage container are positioned in said washing space of said washing bin.